OCR ADVANCED SUBSIDIARY GCE IN MATHEMATICS (3890)
OCR ADVANCED SUBSIDIARY GCE IN PURE MATHEMATICS (3891)
OCR ADVANCED SUBSIDIARY GCE IN FURTHER MATHEMATICS (3892)
OCR ADVANCED GCE IN MATHEMATICS (7890)
OCR ADVANCED GCE IN PURE MATHEMATICS (7891)
OCR ADVANCED GCE IN FURTHER MATHEMATICS (7892)
QAN (3890) 100/3434/1
AS assessment June 2014
QAN (7890) 100/3435/3
A2 assessment June 2014
QAN (3891) 100/6021/2
AS certification June 2014
QAN (3892) 100/6020/0
GCE certification June 2014
QAN (7891) 100/6023/6
QAN (7892) 100/6022/4
Key Features
• Simple, flexible structure.
• Clearly defined AS and A2 standards.
• Permits AS Further Mathematics to be studied in year 12.
• Firmly established progression routes from GCSE for all students.
• All units externally assessed – no coursework.
Support and In-Service Training for Teachers
In support of these specifications, OCR will make the following materials and services available to teachers:
• up-to-date copies of these specifications;
• In-Service Training (INSET) meetings;
• specimen question papers and mark schemes;
• past question papers and mark schemes after each examination session;
• a report on the examination, compiled by senior examining personnel, after each examination session.
If you would like further information about the specification, please contact OCR.
Foreword
This booklet contains OCR’s specifications for Advanced Subsidiary GCE (AS) and Advanced GCE (A
Level) Mathematics, and associated certification titles, for teaching from September 2013. It has previously
been revised to take account of the changes to the GCE Mathematics Aggregation Rules from January 2008
and the introduction of the A* award for A Level Certifications from June 2010. The specification has been
further revised to take account of changes arising as a consequence of the removal of the January
examination series.
Prior to 2008 GCE Mathematics and Further Mathematics were aggregated using the ‘least best’ method.
Under this system candidates were awarded the highest possible grade for GCE Mathematics using the
lowest possible uniform mark total and then the best grade for Further Mathematics using the remaining unit
results. Candidates were able to decline awards if they planned to improve their grades in the future.
From January 2008 a candidate wishing to improve their grade is no longer able to decline the original
award; instead candidates make an entry for at least one of the GCE Mathematics’ units and make an entry
for certification. GCE Mathematics and Further Mathematics are now aggregated by first establishing the
best possible combination of grades and then selecting the unit combination which gives the highest uniform
mark total for the GCE Mathematics.
From June 2010 the A* grade was introduced to reward exceptional performance at A Level. For GCE
Mathematics the A* grade is awarded based on performance in the Core 3 and Core 4 units. For Further
Mathematics A Level the award of A* will be based on the results of the best three A2 units.
Advanced Subsidiary GCE units are assessed at a standard appropriate for candidates who have completed
the first year of study of a two-year Advanced GCE course. A2 units are assessed at a standard appropriate
for candidates who have completed a two-year Advanced GCE course. Advanced Subsidiary GCE forms
the first half of Advanced GCE in terms of teaching time and content. However, the Advanced Subsidiary
can be taken as a ‘stand-alone’ qualification.
In these specifications, the term module is used to describe specific teaching and learning requirements. The
term unit describes a unit of assessment. Each teaching and learning module is assessed by an associated
unit of assessment.
These specifications meet the requirements of the Common Criteria (QCA, 1999), the GCE Advanced
Subsidiary and Advanced Level Qualification-Specific Criteria (QCA, 2003) and the relevant Subject
Criteria.
CONTENTS
Contents 3
Section A: SPECIFICATION SUMMARY 5
Course Outline 5
Specification Content 5